Apparatus for handling bricks.



No. 646,207. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

.1. P. B. FISKE.

' APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BRICKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(N 0 Model.)

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NlTE STATES ATENT Fries.

JONATHAN P. l. FISKE, OF NElVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BRICKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,207, dated March27, 1900. Application filed November 27, 1899. Serial No. 738,352. (Nomodel.)

-received from the brick-making machine it is not limited to this use,but in certain of its features is capable of extended use in handlingbricks at any stage of their manufacture or, in fact, in handling thefinished bricks wherever it maybe found desirable to handle them inlarge bodies.

In the manufacture of bricks it is essential that the green bricksshould not be disturbed any more than is absolutely necessary, inasmuchas the corners and edges are very liable to be chipped off and thebricks otherwise disfigured and distorted, and accordingly I- haveheretofore devised mechanism for manufacturing bricks practicallywithout manual handling thereof, the bricks being maintained in unitstacks and handled by machinery from the beginning to the end of themanufacturing process. Inasmuch, however, as it is essential in orderthat the large stacks of bricks required for the burning-kiln shall beprop erly stacked for burning that the green bricks should be stackedwith extreme accuracy and should be maintained so stacked without anydisturbance of their said accurate arrangement, I have deemed itadvisable to provide the herein-described apparatus whereby the greenbricks are stacked on a stacking-station or receiving-platform havingguides or spacing-aliners which not only serve to aid the eye of thestacker, (provided they are stacked by hand,) but also guide the liftingdevice and prevent any accidental abrasion of the bricks or unevennessin movement and operation, and cooperating therewith I provide a lifterhaving fingers or arms which are adapted to enter between the saidguides or aliners of the station, said lifter also being speciallyconstructed so that no possible twisting or swinging or tipping movementcan 'take place as the stack of bricks is being transported thereby intothe drying or burning kiln or elsewhere.

' I will set forth the details of construction and operation of myinvention in the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of my invention,and the latter will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my improved stacking-station in endelevation. Fig. 2 shows the same in front elevation, parts being brokenaway, said figure also showing a few bricks stacked thereon to show themanner of use thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my new liftingdevice, parts being broken away and the right-hand end thereof being insection to show the details of construction. Fig. 4. is an end elevationlooking toward the left end of Fig. 3, a portion of the carriage beingvertically sectioned. Figs. 5 and 6 are details in end and frontelevation, respectively, of a modified construction.

It will be understood that the green bricks are made in any usual orpreferred manner by means of a brick-machine or otherwise, and it may beare delivered on a usual separating-belt, from which they are placed instack formation on the stacking stand or station.

Referring to Figs. 1 and- 2, it will be seen that the stacking stand orstation is composed of a suitable base a, herein shown as formed of twochannel-beams a, arranged facing each other, (see Fig. 1,) on which aresecured cross-beams,'ridges, or projections a spaced apart preferably sothat two cross beams serve to support the length of one brick, as shownin Fig. 2. v

At the rear of the base a I bolt or otherwise secure vertical guides or,as I term them, spacing-aliners a, herein shown in the form ofangle-irons, these guides or aliners having a width corresponding to thewidth of the I beams or ridges a and being spaced apart the same as thebeams Thus when the special lifting device, presently to be ex plained,enters at c beneath the bricks (see Fig. 2) there is no possibility thatthe teeth or arms of the lifter can come in contact with ,inclose thetracks a the flanges at the upper sides of the ridges a so as to give ajar to the bricks, nor can the said arms of the lifter possibly moveotherwise than truly vertical as they lift the green bricks, inasmuch asthey are guided nnvaryingly by the aliners a. I

The lifter (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) is of the overhead-crane variety,although it will be understood that I do not limit my invention to allthe details, arrangements, and relations herein explained, inasmuch asmany changes and variations may be made without departing from the scopeof my invention.

As herein shown, the crane-carriage a runs on tracks oi, the carriagehaving special trucks a at its ends, whose flanged rollers a The trucksa are adjustable relatively to the carriage, being provided withthreaded bearings a in which operate one or more rods a rotated by anysuitable means, as by a hand-wheel (n whereby the carriage may beshifted on both trucks simultaneously, an interposed roller (L14 orother shifting device being provided in order to permit the heavy weightof the truck to be readily changed in position to a slight extentrelatively to the trucks, this provision being made in order toaccommodate the lifter to the slightly-varying positions required of itin receiving and placing the bricks properly in a kiln.

Preferably adjacent its opposite ends the crane-carriage has chain-drumsa, on which are wound suitable lifting-chains a in opposite pairs, (seeFig. 4,) said chains at their lower ends being connected to acarryingframe a", which rigidly supports the liftingarms or carryingdevices provided for engaging and lifting a stack of bricks. The frame ais preferably composed of opposite longitudinally-extending I-beams ahaving adjacent their ends similar cross-beams a and the carryingdevices are shown in the form of U -shaped hooks @0 whose upper ends 04project over and parallel to the lower ends a, said hooks or arms beingspaced apart to correspond to the alining plates at of the support andheld rigidly in said spaced-apart position by any suitable means, as byusual bolts n and spacing-sleeves (L24, (to which, however, I make noclaim.) One main object of this construction is to provide a liftingdevice which will necessarily be perfectly steady and level at all timeswithout any possibility of twisting or swinging, and this object issecured in the construction already explained by reason of the fact thatat each of its four corners the lift proper or series of hooked arms isprovided with a lifting-chain, and these four chains being raised andlowered simultaneously give absolute steadiness and precision ofmovement.

It will be understood that I have omitted the motor and such usualfeatures of cranes as may be employed without forming a part of myinvention, and also it will be understood that I am not limited as tothe precise location of the lifting-chains and other vari ous featuresso long as they perform the desired purpose of insuring perfectsteadiness and certainty of movement, as explained. The main object may,however, be attained by various other means, and accordingly in Figs. 5and 6 I have shown means for maintaining the lifting device steady andlevel in the form of guide-rods (1 it being understood that there is oneof these rods at each end of the frame a", and the frame is providedwith a guide-eye a riding on each rod, and in this construction the liftmay have only one chain 0. located at the center of the lift, it beingunderstood that the major part of the lift is broken away in Fig. 6 forconvenience of space.

A lift constructed as above explained is exceedingly light, strong, andconvenient, being easily and quickly moved from place to place, while atthe same time it is capable of lifting a long row of stacked brickswithout the slightest danger of their being disturbed either in beingraised, being carried, or in being deposited again.

)Vhile I have shown one form of special truck and carriage, it will beunderstood that I am not limited thereto for all purposes, in-

asmuch as the provision of means for main-.

taining the lifting device steady and level under all conditions is animportant feature in and of itself, whether used with the particularcarriage, &c., herein shown or not.

Preferably I provide in the lifting chain or chains suitable adjustingdevices, turnbuckles being shown for the purpose, by means of whichextreme accuracy of leveling may be secured. Further accuracy ofmovement is provided for by a lateral adjustment of the lower ends ofthe chains, slots a being herein shown as formed in the cross-beams a inwhich the stirrups (1. or other chain connections are laterallyadjustable.

YVhen it is desired to remove a stack of bricks from the station, theprojecting ends (L22 of the lifting device are entered in the spaces (ibeneath the bricks, the lifting-arms passing between the alinersa of thestackingstation, and then the hoist is operated, the steadying means,whether it be the plurality of chains a or the special guiding devices(1, (L or other means, serving to maintain the entire stack of bricksfrom end to end and from side to side in perfectly-undisturbed relation,so that a load of many tons of green or other bricks may thus be raisedand transported without danger, and also the aliners a of thestacking-station serve a most important purpose in aiding the person whostacks the bricks to get the bricks in perfectlystacked position. Inorder that this feature of my invention may be properly apprehended, itmay be well for me to explain that when bricks are stacked in aburning-kiln they are stacked much higher than it is possible to stackthe green bricks in a drier or dryingkiln, inasmuch as the green or softbricks if flush with the edges of said I-beams, substan-- tially asdescribed.

4. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a stacking-station having ledgesspaced apart to correspond to the requirements of stacking, said ledgesbeing formed of I-beams and stacked to such a height would crush underthe superimposed load, whereas after they have been dried they arestrong enough to sustain a much greater load. However, in order thus tostack the bricks in a burningkiln by machinery-e. g. by means of alifting device such as shown herein-it is of course obvious that thelifting device must take from the drier one load of dried brickssuch,for instance, as indicated in Fig. land having deposited this load atthe bottom of a kiln the lifting device brings another similar load tobe placed on top of the previously-deposited load; but if now the toplayer of bricks on the first-deposited load have become disarranged inany respect or were not properly placed by the stacker it is evidentthat the teeth or arms of the lifting device cannot pass down betweensaid toplayer of bricks in order to deposit the second load thereon andbe removed from under the same. For this reason it is absolutelyessential that the persons stacking the bricks originally should spacethe top row of green bricks with absolute accuracy to correspond to thespacing of the lifting-arms, and for this reason the spacingaliners ctare very important.

As already explained, I do not limit myself to the precise mechanismherein shown nor otherwise than as hereinafter expressed in the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 15-

1. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a stacking-station having ledgesspaced apart to correspond to the requirements of stacking, a liftingdevice having lifting-arms similarly spaced apart to enter between saidledges, and spacing-aliners secured to said station in alinement withsaid ledges, and extending vertically above the same at one end thereof,whereby the person stacking the bricks is enabled to place the top rowof bricks in accurate alinement with said ledges to correspond with thespacing of said lifting device, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a stacking-station having ledgesspaced apart as required for stacking purposes, the intervals betweensaid ledges being sufficient to permit the entrance thereinto oflifting-arms, combined with spacing-aliners separated from each other toguide the stacker in placing the bricks, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a stacking-station having ledgesspaced apart to correspond to the requirements of stacking, said ledgesbeing composed of I-beams and having vertical spacing-aliners extendinghaving an gle-irons secured at the ends of said I-beams, saidangle-irons presenting a fiat alining face the same in width as said I-beams, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aplurality of freelyprojecting lifting arms or hooks spaced apartaccording to the requirements of the bricks, means for transporting saidlifting device, and means connected with said lifting device and withsaid transporting means for raising and maintaining said lifting devicesteady and level when loaded, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aplurality of freelyprojecting lifting arms or books spaced apartaccording to the requirements of the bricks, means for transporting saidlifting device, means for raising and maintaining said lifting devicesteady and level when loaded, and means for accurately leveling saidlifting device, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of separated hooks having freely-projecting lower ends to engageand lift the bricks, combined with front and rear lifting chains orcables, and means for adjusting the lower ends of said chains or cableslaterally with relation to said lifting device, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of freelyprojecting arms spaced apart for engaging andliftingstacked bricks, a carriage, hoisting means on said carriage for raisingsaid lifting device, trucks supporting said carriage, and means forshifting said carriage on said trucks, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of freelyprojecting arms spaced apart for engaging and liftingstacked bricks, a carriage, hoisting means on said carriage for raisingsaid lifting device, said hoisting means including three or more chainsor cables secured to said 1ifting device at separated points, wherebythe lifting device is maintained level and steady in its movement,substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of U -shaped lifting arms or hooks, said hooks being spaced apartfor engaging and lifting stacked bricks, and having their lower endsprojecting freely to engage the bricks, and their upper ends ex tendingapproximately parallel to said lower ends,and separated supporting-beamsextending lengthwise of the lift and transversely of the upper ends ofsaid hooks for lifting said hooks, combined with means for raising saidlifting device, substantially as described.

lifting device comprising aseries of U -shaped lifting arms or hooks,said hooks being spaced apartfor engaging and lifting stacked bricks,

11. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a

and having their lower ends projecting freely to engage the bricks, andtheir upper ends extending approximately parallel to said lower ends,and a frame for carrying said series of hooks, said frame comprisinglongitudinal beams separated from each other and engaging the upper endsof said hooks each at two points, and cross-beams joining saidlongitudinal beams together, combined with lifting means, substantiallyas described.

12. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of U shaped lifting arms or hooks, said hooks being spaced apartfor engaging and lifting stacked bricks, and having their lower endsprojecting freely to engage the bricks, and their upper ends extendingapproximately parallel to said lower ends, and a frame for carrying saidseries of hooks, said frame comprising longitudinal beams separated fromeach other and engaging the upper ends of said hooks each at two points,and cross-beams joining said longitudinal beams together, and three ormore chains or cables secured to said frame at separated points forlifting the same and maintaining the lifting device level and steady inoperation, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus for handling bricks, a lifting device comprising aseries of U -shaped lifting arms or hooks, said hooks being spaced apartfor engaging and lifting stacked bricks, and having their lower endsprojecting freely to engage the bricks, and their upper ends extendingapproximately parallel to said lower ends,and separated supporting-beamsextending lengthwise of the lift and transversely of the upper ends ofsaid hooks for lifting said hooks, and three or more separated chains orcables secured to said supporting-beams for raising said lifting deviceand maintaining it level and steady in operation, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JONATHAN P. B. FISKE.

Witnesses:

GEO. II. MAXWELL, FREDERICK L. EMERY.

